Rebirth

After the golden carriage departed, the air remained oppressive.

Neat, hurried footsteps suddenly sounded in the distance.

"Tap—tap—tap—"

Very soon, a squad of Marines rushed into the scene.

Their formation was orderly, their bearing solemn.

The man at the front walked with steady steps. His dark purple hair was styled into a mohawk, with the rest tied neatly into a knot behind his head.

His dark purple mustache was meticulously trimmed, his facial features hard and cold, his gaze sharp.

A light-purple striped suit fit his frame, draped beneath a Marine justice coat.

A katana hung at his waist, and every step he took was firm and powerful.

—Rear Admiral Momonga.

He immediately locked onto the figure in the center of the scene and quickened his pace toward Rock.

"Smack!"

He stood at attention.

He saluted.

"Vice Admiral Rock!"

His voice rang out loud and clear.

Rock turned his head to glance at him, a trace of relief flashing through his eyes.

"Oh, Momonga."

"The Sabaody Archipelago is under your jurisdiction?"

Momonga did not hesitate, his tone as stern as ever.

"Yes!"

"Several days ago, by order of Admiral Sengoku, I was assigned responsibility for the surrounding waters and daily security of the Sabaody Archipelago."

Rock nodded, casually sweeping his gaze across the area.

Scattered chains, opened iron cages, and people who had yet to fully come to their senses.

"You came at the right time."

"Starting today."

He spoke slowly. "The Sabaody Archipelago will officially abolish the slave trade."

As soon as those words fell, the expressions of the slave traders around them changed instantly.

Some went pale.

Some swallowed hard.

Some slowly clenched their fingers.

That was everything they depended on to survive—their wealth, the source of their power.

—Their "life."

Yet not a single person dared to